Ironing-machine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. G. CRAWFORD. IRONING MACHINE.

No. 447,559. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.v

INVEN FUR v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. J. G. CRAWFORD.

IRONING MACHINE.

N0. 447,559. Patented-Mar.-3, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. ORAIVFORD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IRONING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 447,559, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed October 30, 1889. Serial No. 328,647. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs G. CRAWFORD, of Boston, in the countyof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of ironing-machines in which the articles to be treated are passed between a heated concave ironing-bed of metal, and the periphery of a cylinder which is covered with felt or other textile fabric.

The invention has for its object, first, to improve the construction of the cylinder, so that air can be drawn inwardly through the felt covering to remove dampness absorbed thereby from the damp articles treated by the mangle.

The invention also has for its object to provide improved means for detaching the finished goods from the periphery of said cylinder.

To these ends my invention consistsin the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an end View of myimproved ironing-machine.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the felt-covered cylinder. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of said cylinder. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of a part of the felt-covered cylinder and a part of the device that detaches the ironed goods therefrom. Fig. 4 represents a side view of a portion of the supporting-frame, showing in section the tubular shaft that supports the ironing-cylinder and the shaft that supports the cams on which the sliding boxes of the cylinder rest. Fig. 5 represents a rear elevation of the machine.

The same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings,a represents the frame of the machine, and 1) represents the cylinder, which is composed of a skeleton frame and a covering 2, of felt or other like fabric, constituting the periphery of the cylinder, the frame being of such construction that air can be drawn inwardly through a felt covering by any suitable means, such as an exhaust-fan c, which communicates with the tubular shaft 3, constituting the axis of the cylinder, through a pipe 1), having an enlarged end 19, that receivesthe outer end of the shaft 3, the latter having holes 4 4 within the cylinder, through which air is drawn by the fan 0.

6' represents the steam-heated ironing-bed, which is arranged to co-operate with the cylinder 1), as shown in Letters Patent No. 238,657, March 8, 1881, said ironing-bed having a concave side fitting the periphery of'the cylinder at one side thereof and being provided with steam supply and" exhaust pipes.

The articles to be treated are passed between the concave side of the bed and the pe-' riphery of the cylinder. The frame that supports the felt covering 2 is here shown as composed of end hubs 5 5, attached to the shaft 3,.longitudinal bars 7, attached to said hubs and arranged parallel with the shaft 3, and intermediate hubs 6. also attached to the shaft 3 and supporting the bars 7 at points between their ends, which are attached to the hubs 5 5. The felt covering is supported by the bars 7, and is kept in the form of a cylinder thereby. It will be seen that the skeleton frame permits the free passage of air through the felt covering, and that by the operation of the exhaust-fan connected, as described, with the cylinder the dampness absorbed by the felt covering from the damp goods being treated is removed from said covering, the air-current drawn therethrough carrying the moisture with it. I prefer to cut away the hubs 6 6 between the bars 7 to form air-spaces 8, separated by the projecting portions-or arms 9 of the hubs on which the bars 7 bear. Said air-spaces permit a free passage of air between all portions of the bars and prevent the rust that may form on the hubs between the bars from coming in contact with the felt covering and soiling the goods being treated.

ls represents a longitudinallygrooved or fluted roll, which is journaled in the ends of weighted arms 29 and is held by weights 19 on the opposite ends of said arms in contact with the felt periphery of the cylinder 19, said arms being pivoted at q to the frame of the machine. The grooved roll is is'rotated by means of a belt 7, connecting a pulley s on the shaft of the cylinder 1) with a pulley 25 on, the shaft of the roll 7., the peripheries of said roll and cylinder traveling in opposite directions at their point of contact. The teeth or ridges of the roll 7r, rotating in contact with the periphery of the cylinder I), detach the ironed articles from the cylinder. The shaft of the cylinder 1) is journaled in hearings in boxes M, which are fitted to slide between in clined guides '2; I on the supporting-frame, and are supported by cams w on a shaftor, which is journaled in hearings in the frame. By turning said shaft and cams in one direction the boxes are allowed to slide clownwardly on the inclined guides, and thus cause the cylinder 1) to separate from the ironingbed a sufficiently to permit a free circulation of air between the cylinder and bed for the purpose of drying the felt covering of the cylinder. \Vhen the machine is in use, the shaft :r and cams w are turned to move the cylinder 1) upwardly to its operative relation with the bed 6. Some portion of the pipep should be flexible or movable to permitthe described movements of the cylinder. The shaft as is provided with asegment-gearm,wl1ich meshes with a pinion 0 on a shaft n. Said shaft has a hand-wheel 92', whereby it may be rotated to cause the rotation of the shaft .1; and its cams. It will be seen that the pivoted arms p supporting the detaching-roll 7;, permit said roll to rise and fall with the cylinder, and thus preserve the operative relation between the roll and the cylinder Z).

Power may be communicated to the cylinder by a driving-belt running on a pulley G on a shaft F, which is journaled in hearings in the frame of the machine and is geared to one end of a shaft q, the other end of which has a gear 0 meshing with a gear 13 on the shaft of the cylinder. The pulley G is connected by a belt H with a pulley I on the shaft of the fan 0. It is obvious, however, that power may be communicated to the fan by any other suitable means.

1. In an ironing-machine cylinder, the combination of the shaft, the end hubs 5 5, the intermediate hubs 6, cut away at their peripheries to form air-spaces 8, the longitudinal bars attached to the hubs between said spaces, and the textile covering bearing on the bars, the said air-spaces permitting free passage of air through the covering at the hubs 6 and preventing contact between the hubs and cot ering, as set forth.

2. In an ironing-machine, the combination of the fixed concave ironing-bed, the cylinder having the textile covering, the movable boxes supporting said cylinder, guides for said boxes, whereby the cylinder is adapted to move toward and from the ironing-bed, the detachingroll in contact with the cylinder, the pivoted weighted arms supporting said roll and holding it in yielding contact with the cylinder, whereby the detaching-roll is enabled to move with the cylinder relatively to the ironing-bed, and the belt connecting a pulley on the shaft of the roll with a pulley on the shaftof the cylinder, as set forth.

In an ironing-machine, the combination of the cylinder composed of the skeleton frame and the textile covering, the tubular shaft supporting the cylinder and provided with orifices within the same, and an exhausting apparatus communicating with said tubular shaft, whereby air is drawn from the interior of the cylinder and through the textile covering thereof, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification,in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of September, A. D. 1889.

JAMES G. CRAIVFORD.

Witnesses:

G. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON. 

